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On June 27, I traveled with Army Outdoor Recreation to Interlaken on their Interlaken Express trip. Interlaken is the most incredible, picturesque place I have ever had the privilege of visiting. Reality blew all of my expectations out of the water.
I first made my way to Lauterbrunnen, a quaint town just 30 minutes by train from Interlaken. Mountains surround this small town in all directions, resulting in a stunning view from every direction. I had read online that Lauterbrunnen was home to 72 waterfalls, so I had to see it for myself. The walk to Trümmelbach Falls was about 40 minutes and was absolutely breathtaking. As it turns out, Trümmelbach Falls are the most accessible glacier falls in the world, with a lift, tunnels and paved paths running through them. Viewing platforms give visitors an up-close look at the falls from various viewpoints.
A few hours later, following the falls and a delicious lunch in Lauterbrunnen, I was back in nearby Interlaken. Hiking was an absolute must for me. Luckily, there is an abundance of hiking and walking trails in Interlaken. I headed off on the “Harder Kulm” trail, fairly well-known among tourists. If you are looking to take on the trail, I would suggest putting 2.5 hours aside for each way.
While the hike is challenging, the view from the top makes it well worth it. The view from Harder Kulm, the top of Interlaken, features Lake Brienz on one side and Lake Thun on the other. A bridge extends out of the side of the mountain and is no doubt the best place to snap pictures and relish the breathtaking landscape.
A small restaurant at the peak of the mountain offers food, drinks, ice cream and more. Picnic benches and lounge chairs offer hikers a place to sit back and relax following the hike. I took in the view from the top for nearly an hour before heading back down. While the hike up was rewarding, I chose to take the funicular down. For €15, the funicular takes you from the top to the bottom in just five minutes.
I spent my last two hours having dinner and exploring the quaint streets of Interlaken. The city center is fairly small and very walkable.
While I chose hiking as my main activity for the day, Interlaken is also known for their extreme sport activities. Visitors have the option of paragliding, hang gliding, skydiving, canyoning, white water rafting and more. While I did not partake in any of these activities, I heard nothing but great things from fellow trip-goers. Some less-extreme sports include a ropes course and kayaking. Next time around I will definitely take advantage of one of these activities. The variety of both extreme sports and leisure activities guarantees something for everyone. Even if you are not looking to participate in extreme sports, a simple, scenic walk is guaranteed to impress. I am beyond thrilled to be heading back to Switzerland next weekend on another Outdoor Recreation trip.
For more information about Outdoor Recreation trips and adventures, visit kaiserslautern.armymwr.com or call Outdoor Recreation at 493-4117 or 0631-3406-4117.
Mannie Daly is an intern at Outdoor Recreation and the Marketing Office. She writes reviews on her trips each weekend. Read more about Mannie’s travels in upcoming KA’s.
